Let's Celebrate Black History Month in Richmond!

DUE TO THE RAIN, WE ARE GOING TO START AT THE VISITORS CENTER AND HAVE A SPECIAL "INDOOR" OUTDOOR AFRO EVENT! LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!

Happy Black History Month, Outdoor Afros!

We’re pleased to partner with the Rosie the Riveter/ WWII Home Front National Park to bring you a special evening event!

February 7 marks the 71st anniversary of the Double Victory Campaign, the 1942 strategy to remind America that black service men and women fought for two victories: to free enslaved people abroad and to win equality at home. We’d love to honor this special event with a hike and interactive discussion on local African American history.

THE HIKE

Joined by fellow Outdoor Afros and National Park Service Rangers and fellow Outdoor Afro Ranger Raphael Allen and Armand Johnson, we’ll start with a hike on the Marina Bay Trail. We’ll work our way around the waterfront, stopping to learn more about the role African American women played on the home front during World War II, including their work as welders on the SS George Washington Carver and their work as union organizers and community activists.

This hike is paved and flat- great for beginners!

POST- HIKE EXHIBIT VIEWING AND DISCUSSION
After the hike, we’ll head back to the Rosie the Riveter museum for an exclusive, interactive tour of exhibits commemorating Black history, including the oral histories of Willie Mae Cotright and Matilda Foster. We look forward to relearning our history together and inviting you to share your memories and stories.

Driving from the East Bay: take 580 West; exit at Harbour Way North. Exit merges with Harbour Way South heading north. Follow road north to Cutting Blvd, turning right onto Cutting. In 2/10ths of a mile turn right onto Marina Way. Continue south on Marina Way to the very end (1 mile) and park. For GPS/ reference' sake, map the directions to 1401 Marina Way (a Comcast ofc), and then drive past it to the end of street.

This event was a true history lesson. My friend and I learned so much about the history of not only African Americans, but also other groups who influenced our story. I will never see Richmond quite the same. It was great to have an interactive discussion allowing the rest of the group to share their knowledge as well. Raphael is like a walking encyclopedia! Many thanks to both Zoe and Raphael for braving the elements to still make this event happen.

Hi everyone- the RSVP is capped at 55 because the theater at the RRWWII Memorial only seats 55. If you are unable to attend tomorrow, kindly update your RSVP as soon as possible to allow other folks to have your seat.

So glad all of you are coming to see the national park that we're making in Richmond, and even more excited that we might fold some of your memories into the stories we tell here. Our goal here is fewer lectures and more interaction, and that includes learning together where your fams were in this 1940s history. For starters, think about: How were African American women (family-, famous or both) living in the 1940s? And How did the Great Migration affect the places that are important to your folks? See you Friday!

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Outdoor Afro is a community that reconnects African-Americans with natural spaces and one another through recreational activities such as camping, hiking, biking, birding, fishing, gardening, skiing — and more! Outdoor Afro uses social media to create interest communities, events, and to partner with regional and national organizations that support diverse participation in the Great Outdoors. Here is where you can start locally connecting with people who share your outdoor interests!